Conditioning of yarns to adapt them for textile operations



Patented Dec. 19, 1939 CONDITIONING F YARNS T0 ADAPT THEM FOR TEXTILE Joseph B. Dickey Rochester, N. Y.,

OPERATIONS and James G. MoNaily, assignorsto'Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey No Drawing. Application November 26, 1937,

Serial No. 178,692

18 Claims.

This invention relates to the conditioning of textile yarns and more particularly to the conditioning of filaments and yarns composed of organic derivatives of cellulose such as cellulose acetate, cellulose acetate propionate, cellulose acetate butyrate, etc., to render them more amenable to textile operations such as knitting and the like.

As is well known in the manufacture of yarns,

particularly those composed of or containing cellulose organic derivatives, it is necessary to treat the yarn in order to reduce the tendency toward breakage of the individual filaments or fibers when they are subjected to various mechanical strains and to lubricate the yarn in order to facilitate handling in such operations as spinning, twisting, winding and reeling. In addition, it is necessary to treat yarn to adapt it for use as warp or filling or for the manufacture of various types of knitted fabrics. In knitting, it is particularly important that the yarn be soft and pliable in order that it may conform readily to the contour of the needles and thus produce a closely knit fabric free from such defects as stitch distortion, pin holes, "laddering, and

the like.

Heretofore it has been proposed to employ softening agents such as polyhydric alcohols and similar agents as ingredients of yarn conditioning or lubricating formulae, generally in connection with mineral, animal or vegetable oils. It has been found, however, that most of the known softening agents and the various formulae containing them have certain drawbacks, one of the 35 most serious of which is high vapor pressure,

and in some cases too drastic a solvent action on the yarn. Many of such agents possess slight or insufficient solvent power for the lubricants with which they are used and it is accordingly neces- 49 sary to employ blending agents or emulsifying agents in order to obtain operable yarn treating formulae. In addition, many of the known softening and lubricating agents are insumciently soluble in water to permit satisfactory removal 5 by aqueous scour baths.

This invention has as its principal object to provide an entirely new class of yarn conditioning agents which are particularly adapted for the treatment of yarns composed of or containing 50 organic derivatives of cellulose and'capable of lubricating, softening and rendering such yarns more amenable to knitting and other textile operations. A further and specific object is to provide a class of conditioning agents which augment or 55 assist the lubricating action of various lubricants when applied to such yarns. A still further object is to provide yarn softening and lubricating formulae which can be readily removed from the yarns by the usual scour baths. A still furtherobject is to provide an improved method for the 5 conditioning of yarns, particularly those composed of or containing organic derivatives of cellulose such as cellulose acetate, whereby the yarn is rendered soft and pliable and capable of employment in a variety of textile operations where 10 complicated designs or stitches are employed. Other objects will appear hereinafter.

These objects are accomplished by the following invention which, in its broader aspects, comprises the discovery that carbamates having the 15 general formula:

where R is an alkyl or alkoxy alkyl group and R is an alkyl group which may be substituted 20 with other groups including hydroxy and alkoxy, may be used as yarn conditioning agents and particularly as softening agents, with or without the addition of animal, mineral, or vegetable oils,

in the treatment of yarns composed of or con- 25 taining organic derivatives of cellulose. We have found that these compounds have a slight solvent and/or softening action on cellulose organic derivative yarns which renders such yarns soft and pliable without at the same time having too 30 drastic a solvent action thereon.

In accordance with the invention these compounds may be applied directly to the yarn during or after spinning, or may be added to the spinning solution itself. We have found that these compounds have exceptional solvent powers which enable them to dissolve mineral oils and blown and unblown, drying and semi-drying, vegetable and animal oils and accordingly they may be, and preferably are, employed as ingredients of yarn conditioning or lubricating formulas in conjunction with agents which function wholly or partially as lubricants.

We have also found that cut staple yarns of various types, particularly those composed of or containing organic derivatives of cellulose such as cellulose acetate, cellulose acetate propionate and the like, may be treated with compounds of the character indicated above to reduce accumulations of static electricity thereon and otherwise to adapt them for use in the manufacture of various textile products in which cut staple fibers are customarily employed, such as the manufacture of yarns on the cotton, woolen or worsted systems. In employing the carbamates of the character 7 Per cent Ethyl N-amyl carbamate 80 I Olive oil therewith to increase; conductivityandthus more readily conduct away static electricity.

In the following examples and description, we have set forth several of the preferred embodiments of our invention; but they are included merely for purposes of illustration and not as a limitation thereof. I r

Our invention will be more readily understood by reference to the following examples in which typical applications of the invention are set forth:

Example L-Yam designed for knitting. nd composed of cellulose acetate is treated by applying thereto ethyl N-butyl carbamate by means; The amount of the condiof an applicator roll. I

oning liquid may run from 4-25% byweight of the yarn. If the yarn is intended for weaving the same procedure may be followed, except that the amount of conditioning agent added to th yarn is only about 1-5%. I

Example II.-A cellulose acetate cut staple yarn having a. staple length of 2-8 inches is treated by'applying thereto 1%-10% of butyl N-amyl carbamate containing 5% of ethanolamine salt of phthalic acid. The yarn so treated is found to be in excellent condition for the manufacture of spun yarn.

Example IIL-A conditioning liquid is made up by mixing the following ingredients in the indicated' proportions:

This composition is applied to a cellulose acetate tions, particularly knitting,

-yarn intended forknittlng irran amount repre- I senting 4-25% by weight of the yarn. The filaments or fibers treated as described above are quite soft and pliable and give excellent results in textile operations, especially knitting, spinning and weaving.'

Other examples of yarn conditioning compositions which may be applied to various types of yarns, particularly cellulose acetate, cellulose acetate propionate and similar cellulose organic derivative yarns in accordance with our invention. and which render such yarns soft and pliable and well adapted for various textile operaare the following:

"en-"news"; .0

Sperm oil n mesons Example XI.--A 20% solution of cellulose acetate'in acetone in which is incorporated -1-25%, by weight of the cellulose acetate, of propyl N- propyl carbamate, is extruded through line oriflces into an evaporativeatmosphere The filaments thus produced are pliable and suitable for knitting and spinning. I

Other examples of yarn conditioning'agents which may be employed in accordance with our invention are the following:

Example XII: l

' Per cent Water Gelatin ,5 Ethyl N-p-hydroxy ethyl carbamate '10 sulfonated olive oil 5 Example XIII:

v a Per cent Water 80 Water Sol, Cell. ester 5 I Propyl N-propyl carbamate 10 Diethylene glycol 5 Example XIV:

' Per cent Butyl N-butyl carbamate r. 20 Olive oil 50 Mineral oil Example XV;

Per cent Ethyl N-cyclohexyl carbamate 10 Blown olive oil 33 Mineral oil 10 Sodium cetyl sulfate 5 Sodium sulfate 2 Sulfonated castor oil i 20 Oleic acid "a 20 As will be apparent from the above examples and description, the conditioning agents of our invention may be applied by a, wide variety of methods. For example, wemay employ the agent as an ingredient of the spinning dope from which the filaments are formed, the amount of the agent so employed depending upon a number of factors, such as the particular cellulose derivative used in making the yarn, the solvent or solvent combination used in making up the spinning solution, and the degree of softness or pliability desired in the yarn, etc.

If the conditioning agent is to be applied to the yarn after spinning, this may be done by bringing the yarn in contact with a wick, roll,

felt wet therewith or the liquid maybe ap- 2,1s4,oos

plied by immersion, spray, or otherwise. The particular point at which the liquid is applied may vary. It may, for example, be applied to the yarn inside or outside the spinning cabinet, between the guide and godet roll, between the godet or other roll or guide and the point of winding and/or twisting. In some cases, the liquid may even be applied to the yarn after winding onto cones, spools, bobbins, or the like or by the socalled bobbin to bobbin" method. In the case of staple fiber manufacture, the liquid may be applied to the yarn prior to, or after cutting into staple lengths.

The amount of the agent so employed will vary widely depending upon the results desired, the specific nature of the material to which the agent is applied, the use to which the yarn is eventually to be put and other factors. For example, in a given case where a cellulose organic acid ester yarn such as a yarn composed of cellulose acetate, is intended for knitting, about 4 to or more by weight, based on the weight of the dry yarn, may be satisfactory, while if the yarn is intended for weaving, the amount may vary between about 1 and 5%.

Although in the above examples we have referred primarily to yarn treating compositions containing only the conditioning agent and an oil, other ingredients such as solvents, non-solvets, emulsifying agents, blending agents and the like, may be added within the scope of our invention. Likewise, various dyes or other coloring matter may be included in case it is desired to permanently or fugitively tint or dye the material undergoing treatment.

Although we have found it convenient to illustrate our invention by reference to compositions containing specific percentages of the various ingredients, these percentages may vary widely depending upon the particular purpose for which the composiiton is intended. For example, if it is demred to control the solvent or softening action of the conditioning agent, the amount of the agent may be adjusted, as for example, by reducing the amount of the agent and correspondingly increasing the amount of oil or other ingredient.

While we have described our invention with particular reference to the treatment of yarns composed of organic derivatives of cellulose such as cellulose acetate, the conditioning agents and formulae described herein are applicable to the conditioning of many other types of cellulose derivative yarns such as those composed of or containing cellulose propionate, cellulose butyrate, cellulose acetate propionate, cellulose acetate butyrate, ethyl cellulose methyl cellulose, benzyl cellulose and others, as well as to the conditioning of silk, wool, cotton, viscose and other natural or artificial materials.

The term yarn as used herein and in the claims is to be understood as including a single filament, a plurality of filaments associated into the form of a thread, either of high or low twist, single or multiple threads associated or twisted together, composite threads composed of a mixture of natural and artificial filaments or a. composite thread formed by twisting together individual strands of natural or artificial materials, as well as cut staple fibers produced from natural and/or artificial filaments or threads and spun yarn produced from such staple fibers.

As indicated above, the yarn conditioning agents of our invention are exceptionally good solvents for a wide variety of mineral, blown and unblown, drying and semi-drying, animal and vegetable oils such as cottonseed, olive, castor, neat's-foot, sperm and other oils. This enables them to be used with any of such oils in making up a variety of yarn treating formulae of varying composition.

The yarn conditioning method and compositions of our invention possess many outstanding advantages. The fundamental and outstanding characteristic of the agents employed in accordance with the invention is their ability to soften yarns, especially those composed of or containing organic derivatives of cellulose such as cellulose acetate and render them soft and pliable and amenable to various textile operations, especially operations such as those involved in weaving and knitting where complicated designs or stitches are employed, without too drastic an action on the yarn material. Another outstanding characteristic of these compounds is their exceptional solvent power for a wide variety of mineral, animal and vegetable oils and their ability to act as lubricating assistants in conjunction with these oils when applied to such yarns.

In addition, due to their solubility in water, they may be readily removed from yarns and fabrics by means of the usual aqueous scour baths. By employing the yarn conditioning agents and method of our invention as herein described, one is enabled to obtain highly satisfactory results in the manufacture of yarns and woven fabrics and especially the production from these yarns of closely knit fabrics free from defects such as pin holes, stitch distortion, laddering and the like.

What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. The process of conditioning yarn to render it more amenable to textile operations including knitting, weaving, spinning and the like which comprises applying thereto a lubricating and softening composition containing a carbamate having the general formula:

where R is an organic radical selected from the group consisting of the alkyl and alkoxy alkyl groups and R is an organic radical selected from the group consisting of the alkyl, the hydroxyand alkoxy-substituted alkyl groups.

2. The process of conditioning yarn composed of or containing organic derivatives of cellulose to render it more amenable to textile operations including knitting, weaving, spinning and the like which comprises applying thereto a lubricating and softening composition containing a carbamate having the general formula:

where R is an organic radical selected from the group consisting of the alkyl and alkoxy alkyl groups and R is an organic radical selected from the group consisting of the alkyl, the hydroxyand alkoxysubstituted alkyl groups.

3. The process of conditioning yarn composed of or containing cellulose acetate to render it more amenable to textile operations including knitting, weaving, spinning and the like, which comprises applying thereto a lubricating and softening composition containing a carbamate having the general formula:

where R is an organic radical selected from the group consisting of the alkyl and alkoxy alkyl groups and R is an organic radical selected from the group consisting of the alkyl, the hydrouand alkoxy-substituted alhl groups,

i. The process of conditioning yarncomposed of or containing cellulose acetate to render it more amenable to textile operations including knitting, weaving, spinning and the like, which comprises applying thereto a lubricating and softening composition containing a carbama having the general formula: v

where R is an organic. radical selected from the group consisting oi the alkyl and alkoxy alkyl groups and R is an organic radical selected from the group consisting of the alkyl, the hydroxyand alkoxy-substituted 'alkyl groups; and a textile lubricant.

-5. The process 01' conditioning yarn composed of or containing cellulose'acetate to render it more amenable to textile operations including knitting, weaving, spinning and the like, which comprises applying thereto a lubricating and softening composition containing ethyl N-butyl carbamate.

6. The process of conditioning yarn composed of or containing cellulose acetate to render it more amenable to textile operations including knitting, weaving, spinning and the like, which comprises applying thereto a lubricating and softening composition containing p-ethoxy ethyl N-propyl carbamate.

'7. The process of conditioning yarn composed of or containing cellulose acetate to render it more amenable to textile operations including knitting, weaving, spinning and the like, which comprises applying thereto a lubricating and softening composition containing p-butoxy' ethyl N-(p-ethoxy) ethyl carbamte.

8. A conditioning agent for rendering yarns more amenable to textile operations including knitting, weaving, spinning and the like which comprises a carbamate having the general forwhere R is an organic radical selected from the group consisting of the alkyl and alkoxy alkyl groups and R is an organic radical selected from the group consisting of the alkyl, the hydroxyand alkoxy-substituted alkyl groups. V

9. A conditioning agent for rendering textile yarns composed of or containing organic derivatives of cellulose more amenable to textile operations including knitting, weaving, pinning and the like which comprises a carbamate having the general formula:

where R is an organic radical selected from the group consisting of the alkyl and alkoxy alkyl groups and R is an organic radical selected from the group consisting of the alkyl, the hydroxyand alkoxy-substituted alkyl groups, and a textile lubricant, I

10. A conditioning agent for rendering yarns composed of or containing cellulose acetate more amenable to textile operations including knitamm ting, weaving. pinning and the like containing ethyl N-butyl carbamate. 11. A conditioning agent iov rendering textil yarns composed of or containing cellulose acetate more amenable to textile operations including knitting, weaving, spinning and the like containing p-ethoxy ethyl N-propyl carbamate.

12. A conditioning agent for rendering textile yarns composed'oi' or containing cellulose acetate more amenable to textile operations including knitting, weaving, spinning and the like containing p-butoxy ethyl N-(p-ethoxy) ethyl carbamate.

l3. Textile yarn amenable to textile operations including knitting, weaving, spinning and.

the like impregnated with a lubricant containing a carbamate having the general formula:

y where R is an organicradical selected irom the group consisting of the alkyl and alkoxy allqyl groups and R is an organic radical selected from the group consisting of the alkyl, the hydroxyand alkoxy-substituted alkyl groups.

14. Textile yarn composed of or containing.

organic derivatives of cellulose-amenable to textile operations including knitting, weaving, spinning and the like, impregnated with a conditioning agent comprising a carbamate having the general formula:

where R is an organic radical selected from the group consisting of the alkyl and alkoxy alkyl groups and R is an organic radical selected from the group consisting of the alkyl, the hydroxyand alkoxy-substituted alkyl groups.

15. Textile yarn composed of or containing organic derivatives of cellulose amenable to textile operations including knitting, weaving, spinning and the like, impregnated with a conditioning agent comprising a carbamate having the general formula:

where R is an organic radical selected from the group consisting oi the alkyl and alkoxy alkyl groups and R is an organic radical selected from the group consisting of the alkyl, the hydroxyand alkoxy-substituted alkyl groups, and a textile lubricant. 

